Reps. Shreve and Harrigan Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Chinese Cyber Threats

Washington, DC - Congressman Jefferson Shreve (R-IN) and Congressman Pat Harrigan (R-NC) introduced the Securing Federal Devices from Chinese Applications Act to strengthen federal cybersecurity and block applications controlled by the Chinese Communist Party from U.S. government devices.

Weak restrictions on apps used on federal devices create avoidable vulnerabilities that foreign adversaries can exploit to surveil officials or gain access to government systems. This legislation prohibits federal employees from downloading or using applications developed, owned, or controlled by China or the Chinese Communist Party on taxpayer-funded devices-closing a clear loophole and reducing cyber risk across the federal government.

Congressman Shreve said, "If an app is controlled by the CCP, it does not belong on a U.S. government device. This bill shuts the door on CCP spyware and makes clear the federal government will not aid China's surveillance state."

Congressman Pat Harrigan said, "Federal devices carry the inner workings of our government, sensitive communications, and data tied to national defense, and allowing Chinese-owned applications on them is a risk we should never tolerate. The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly used technology as a tool for surveillance and coercion, and this legislation makes it clear that platforms tied to the CCP have no access point inside the federal government."